Symposium on police studies opens

The Symposium on Police Studies of the Strait cum Hong Kong and Macao, which the Force assisted in organising at the invitation of the Police Association of China (PAC), opened in the Police Headquarters in Wan Chai today (October 29).

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the President of PAC, Mr Tian Qiyu, said that once established, the PAC proposed to organise a symposium for police officers and police associations on both sides of the Strait, Hong Kong and Macao to share achievements in policing research and information on transboundary crime, to explore problems all faced, and to promote co-operation thus building a steadily progressive relationship.

"The proposal was well received by people of the four places. The first Symposium on Police Studies of the Strait cum Hong Kong and Macao was successfully held in Shanghai last year," he said.

He said that people of all four places found the Symposium a very good platform for interactions and exchanges.

"In response to such enthusiasm, the Symposium was organised again this year, with the theme of 'Police Studies and Practice of the New Century', and police officers, experts and academics of the four places were invited to meet in Hong Kong to share and exchange their views," he said.

"To strengthen the exchanges and co-operation with experts, academics, police officers and police associations of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao is the common wish of the people of all four places. Since its establishment, the PAC has placed great emphasis on this task," he said.

The Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose SK Lee, said at the opening ceremony that transboundary visits became more frequent among the people on both sides of the Strait, Hong Kong and Macao after the reunification of Hong Kong with the Mainland. This inevitably provided bad elements opportunities for transboundary crimes.

"I deeply believe that only through close co-operation among international and inter-regional law enforcement agencies could transboundary crimes be effectively combated," he said.

"This Symposium on Police Studies of the Strait cum Hong Kong and Macao held by the PAC provides an effective platform for experts, academics and law enforcement agencies from the four places to exchange their views and thus promote co-operation among them."

On the same occasion, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Tang King-shing, said that policing work was getting more complex and varied today. To enhance enforcement efficiency, it was of vital importance that equal emphasis was laid on both policing theories and practices. This was in fact an inexorable trend of modern policing throughout the world.

"As we all see, the whole world is undergoing rapid development, the efficiency and effectiveness of law enforcement officers need to be further enhanced and enforcement agencies of various jurisdictions also have to make continuous improvement themselves in response to the fast-changing social environment. I confidently believe that by way of studies and researches on policing management, they would certainly be able to achieve this and continue to provide the community with quality police service," he said.

He also pointed out the importance of co-operation among law enforcement agencies of various jurisdictions.

"Modes of criminality are constantly evolving with rapid advancement in technology, and the traditional 'boundary' concept can no longer be followed in face of the increase in transboundary crime.

"Hong Kong Police Force has all along been in close liaison with law enforcement agencies of other jurisdictions and particular importance is attached to exchange and co-operation with our counterparts in neighbouring regions.

"It is a fact that social environments in the Mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao are quite different, but since we are all of the same Chinese cultural origin, there would surely be considerable issues and experiences for our sharing and exchange," Mr Tang said.

Some 130 delegates attended the Symposium. Officiating guests at the opening ceremony included the President of PAC, Mr Tian Qiyu； Deputy Director General of Department of Law, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Li Guangxiang; Director of Department of Exchange, Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Dai Xiaofeng; the Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Mr Wang Fengchao; the Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose SK Lee; the Commissioner of Police, Mr Tang King-shing; Honorary Chairman of Taiwan Criminal Investigation and Prevention Association, Mr Lu Yu-jun; and the Secretary for Security, Macao SARG, Mr Cheong Kuoc Va.


Police Report No.3

Ends/Monday, October 29, 2007